Acceptance….
ByI have a backyard bird feeder (two actually). At any one time there can be a dozen different species of birds in my yard. Some are full time residents. Some regular visitors. Some just pop by once in a while.
I have sat in my front deck and watched as Finches have eaten side by side with Magpies. As Lorikeets and Happy Jacks seem to talk to one another. From the tiniest little creatures, to big black Crows. And each time I wonder…. why aren’t we more like this.
Birds of all colours, shapes and sizes, co-existing… eating together… drinking together…. sharing the same bird bath.
I don’t know what they are thinking. I can’t read little birdie minds. But it seems to be that are displaying something that we humans still seem to have such trouble with. Acceptance.
It doesn’t seem to matter to the birds, if others have different coloured feathers. Or if they make different lifestyle choices. Happy Jacks hang around in dozens. I have a family of 5 Fairy Wren who permanently live off my back deck. Pale Headed Rosella seem to hang around in pairs. The Crow is usually a loner. But Galah’s are always in packs.
They all live differently, and yet they all co-exist.
More than co-exist… they co-operate.
I have seen smaller birds flicking the seed out of the small hanging feeder on to the ground, so bigger birds can access it. I have watched them almost line up waiting for their turn at the food. Even the carnivorous birds, who don’t eat the seed, hang around with the others in an almost social exercise. It’s breath-taking to watch.
And I think as human beings, there is SO much we could learn from this behaviour, if were only open minded and open hearted, enough to do so.

56 Comments
Love this!
Thanks
Love your birdies…. You are so right. We could all learn from Mother Nature. Co-existing….. Helping one another, caring for one another, not being judgmental or jealous. ~Franny
Very true Franny…. and we are supposed to be the “evolved” ones
I love my regularly visiting birds too. I’ve even named all the recognizable ones. Great shot by the way!
Thanks. If I don’t put the seed out on time, they tend to let me know about it pretty quickly
Great caption!
Thanks
Reblogged this on sydneyhobbies and commented:
I like how the bird is spreading out its wings. What is it actually doing?
Allen
http://www.sydneyhobbies.com/
Thanks for reblog
The wagtail was a taking a bath in a puddle of water on top my hot tub & he was shaking his wings to dry off. I was just at the right place at the right time I guess.
Great shot and as an avid birder I agree with you. They do tend to get along well and for anyone who hasn’t ever had a bird feeder they are priceless for wonderful entertainment! Tom
I have had a bird feeder now for almost a decade and I wouldn’t be without one. They are just so wonderful to watch as the birdies feed. It’s like having pets that are totally free
Very well stated.. I couldn’t agree more! It is all about acceptance, tolerance, and a willingness to accept change, Historically, humans have never learned how to play nice in the sandbox. It is rather unfortunate, more humans don’t recognize what our furry and feathered friends already know: they aren’t allowed in the dog parks and watering holes if they don’t have proper social skills and play nice with others. Great photo!
Thank you so much. I always used to prefer the company of animals to humans, but I have met so many wonderfully nice people on WordPress, it has helped me realise that there is hope for the human race yet
Fantastiic. Thanks for sharing Nonoy Manga
You are so welcome.
It’s fun with a bird feeder, action all the time…AND you’re close to the birds and can get fab shots! Ann
I just love having them around, they are so much fun to watch.
So Tracie dear, can you help me with the bird ID? Ann
We call them Willy Wagtails (Rhipidura leucophrys) cause they are constantly wagging their tails like a dog. They are actually very friendly and inquisitive birds. They don’t eat from the feeder, they are insectivorous, but they like to watch as others do.
Thanks Tracie for the info. We have White Wagtails, I’ll post them later today! Ann
OH. I would love to see them. They sound adorable.
That photo is bliss!
It’s an oldie, but I couldn’t resist using again
Glad you did!
It’s not just birds that humans can learn from. All kinds of animals, really. It’s a shame that more people don’t take away more wisdom from movies like The Lion King.
Very true…. I have said it before and I’ll say it again… everything important in life I ever learned, I learned from an animal
That’s a good line!
I do believe this is the cutest little creature I ever saw. You are so right about the bird world and what we should learn from them.
Insightful commentary along with a gorgeous little bird.
Thanks George ♥
What a fantastic shot Tracie… and your words: I think we humans can learn so much from animals…I think sometimes is just easier to hang around with animals than with people, although I thnk that more and more people are realising that LOVE is the only way and there is a little shift going on.
Perhaps our children, who are the leaders of the future will act more like these lovely birds… That is my wish for today
That is my wish also ♥
What a fine photo!
At a bird feeder near me,, often blackbirds and robins wait for blue tits to drop feed.
Australian wagtails differ a lot from wagtails in Portugal;
I would love to see a Portuguese Wagtail.
Hi, there is a photo of a yellow wagtail in Portugal at
http://dearkitty1.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/portuguese-little-tern-and-redshank/
(scroll down). They are in spring migrstion from Africa to Europe now.
Oh… thanks so much
You made me take a second look at my cats, and I certainly have changed my perspective. Now, as I look at any animal, I am no longer amazed.
It is second nature for these birds to accept, and assist so, all are provided with food.
All my life, I have never questioned the human as the most developed on the planet……until, now. It was a given but, no longer as I try to fine tune my sync with the universe.
What might animals be thinking of the human?
Nice photo. Like the contrast in colors. IE The reddish tip of the wing, highlighted, and contrasted with the background. Also the light surface where the Wagtail is resting contrasted with the vivid colors of the bird. Very nice!
I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am that I have caused you to take a second look at things. This might be the most encouraging comment I have received in a long time. Thank you so much for this.
Changing the world, one mind at a time
that’s me!!
Not one mind at a time. How many other minds will you change because, the one mind has echoed the same thought to another mind? And another mind……
That’s the stuff my dreams are made of ♥
Great photo!
Thanks Val.
Superb image Tracie Louise
Thanks Jim.
Such lively appearance!
Thanks George.
Tracie,Thanks for the bird photo and your thoughts about how we can learn from the birds! Indeed! Your mention of lorikeets brought a smile to my face. My husband and I travelled to Australia last fall and loved it. One of sights that delighted us were these colorful and cute little birds. They were quite exotic to our North American eyes! That is one of the aspects I love about travel– we can share in each others’ flora and fauna. In the process we get to know the world and each other a little better! Have a good day!
I adore the Lorikeets. I used to live down south and whenever I saw pictures of lorikeets it just screamed “tropical paradise” to me. It is now such a treat to have them in my yard each and every day. They are so much to be around.
And I know what you mean about travel. I travel to the US every other year or so, and I just love the Cardinals. We don’t have them here, or the hummingbirds. I would dearly love to photograph a hummingbird. Thanks so much.
Wonderful photo – love photos with movements .. and the flicking wings here … so delicately!
Glad you like it… thank you
Nice timing on this shot!
Thanks!
Very thoughtful message, Tracielouise. And the capture of the bird at just that moment in time is amazing!
Right place, right time… a great deal of photography is about just that
What a unique (and lucky) shot, Tracie! Looks like you were in the right place at the right time.
Yes I was.. thanks